Obstetrical forceps.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. w. B. DEWEES.

OBSTETRIUAL PORGEPS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2, 1907.

4g 9 a /5 /z um/Mica;

q/mhmooea V Quota;

WILLIAM B. DEWEES, OF SALINA, KANSAS.

OBSTETRICAL FORCEPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Application filed July 2, 1907. Serial No. 381,878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. DEWEES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salina, in the county of Saline and State of Kansas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Obstetrical Forceps, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to obstetrical forceps, and one object of theinvention is to provide what I term an axis-traction and anti-craniotomyforceps, the construction of which provides for the ready cleansing ofall parts of the forceps by any preferred antiseptic preparation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means adapted tosecure the blades or jaws of the forceps in proper relative positionwhen in use, and by means of which the exact distance between the tipsof the blades or jaws may be readily determined, said means permittingthe operator to release the pressure of the blades or jaws so as toallow them tomove apart to any desired but limited extent to allow forconditions which necessarily exist during the use of the instrument.

1 With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel construction, combination andarrangement hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of theforceps complete, constructed in accordance with the present invention.Fig. 2 is a top plan view, showing the application of the clampingscrew. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the application of theclamping screw and nut and the relation of said parts to the handles ofthe forceps. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the clamping screw.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures,

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the blades or jaws of theforceps which are of the usual skeleton or open form and carried by theouter ends of the shanks 2 which, together with the blades, are giventhe proper curvature longitudinally to admit of the axis-tractionproperties well understood by physicians and others conversant with theart to which this invention appertains.

The lock for the blades and shanks consists of the headed stud 3 whichprojects from one of the shanks and is adapted to enter an open notch orslot 4 formed in the other shank. When the parts are arranged in themanner described, a pivotal connection is established between them whileat the same time they may be readily disconnected for antisepticcleaning. One of the shanks 2 is provided with a vertically dependingextension 5 terminally provided with a cross head 6 forming a hand-gripby means of which the forceps may be manipulated. The other shank isprovided with a curved extension 7 forming a handle which projectsbeyond and cally depending extension 5, the parts 5 and 7 forminghandles by means of which the shanks may be pivotally actuatedrelatively to each other for properly adjusting and positioning theblades or jaws 1.

In order to hold the blades in proper relation to the object engagedthereby, I provide a clamping screw 8 which, at one end, is enlarged andformed with a notch 9 and a spring tongue 9, said notch being adapted tolaterally engage a stud 10 on one of the shanks 2 adjacent to thevertically depending extension 5. The spring tongue 9 is adapted tosecure the screw 8 on the stud 10 against accidental removal. The curvedhandle 7 or the shank with which said handle connects is recessed asshown at 11 to admit the notched end of the screw 8 between the twohandles. The outer portion of the screw is provided with opposite flatsides 12 and the opposite edges thereof are screwthreaded as shown at13, to receive a thumbnut 14 which is adapted to be brought to bearagainst an inclined seat 15 formed by notching and off-setting one edgeof the shank carrying the handle 7, the inclined seat being located andformed between spaced lips or projections 16. The upper shank which isformed with the seat 15, is also provided with an arm 18 extendingparallel with seat 15 on a lower plane, so that a slot or passage isformed between the seat 15 on the shank and the arm through which theclamp-screw 8 passes. The arms 18 are provided with shoulders orprojections similar to the projections 16 above referred to, and thusbearings are formed for the thumb-nut 14 at opposite sides of the slotor space through which the shank of the screw passes. Such arrangementprevents cramping and binding of the thumb-nut. One or both of the flatsides of the screw 8 are graduated or provided with a scale as shown at17 which, in connection with the hub ortion of the nut 14, which acts asan indicator, designates lies outside of the vertithe distance in inchesor the like between the tips of the blades or jaws 1 and serves as aguide to the operator for partially opening the blades periodically toallow for expan sion and contraction.

In applying the forceps, the clampingscrew may be detached therefrom asit will not be needed until the forceps have been properly adjusted.After the desired adjustment or positioning of the blades has beeneffected, the notched head of the clamping-screw is slipped over andbrought into engagement with the stud 10 and the nut 14 manipulateduntil it bears against the seat 15 and holds the jaws in proper relationto the object held between the same. By means of the constructionhereinabove described, axis-traction is made perfect, easy and simple.with the hand on the cross head it is impossible to do otherwise thanmake axis traction in a direct line with the head of the child in thegrasp of the blades. The operator is enabled to seize the head moreadvantageously at the brim, and the facility with which it can be aidedto descend in the axis of the superior strait, as well as to follow theaxis of the pelvis, would seem scarcely possible to one accustomed onlyto the ordinary forceps. the set-screw, with its scales, the blades canbe definitely fixed upon the head and readily released at intervals. Theforceps are easy of application and will be found safe and reliable inpractice. The instrument is also economic and simple.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein-described forceps comprising a pair of blades detachablypivoted together, one of said blades being formed with a verticallydepending extension provided with an end cross-bar, and the other bladebeing formed with a downwardly curved extension overlying the verticallydepending extension By means of of the other blade, and a graduating setscrew between the shanks of the blades to set and hold the blades.

2. A forceps comprising a pair of blades pivotally connected together,one of said blades being formed with a vertically depending extensionterminally provided with a cross bar and the other blade being providedwith a curved extension forming a handle which projects beyond and liesoutside of said vertically depending extension.

3. A forceps comprising a pair of blades pivotally connected together, astud secured to one of the blades, a clamping screw provided with anopen notch at one end to embrace the stud, said screw being providedwith a spring tongue adapted to engage the stud to prevent the screwfrom. becoming accidentally disengaged therefrom, and a nut adjustablymounted upon the shank of the screw.

4. A forceps comprising a pair of blades pivotally connected together,one of said blades being formed with a vertically depending extension,and the other blade being provided with a handle which projects beyondand lies outside of said vertically depending extension.

5. The combination with forceps provided with overlapping handles, of ascrew secured to and projecting from one of the handles, the securingend of the screw being located between the handles, the other handlehaving one of its edges formed to provide a seat, an arm secured to saidother handle parallel with the seat on a lower plane, said arm beingformed to provide a seat, and a nut mounted upon the screw forengagement with the seat. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. DEWEES. Witnesses C. M. WHITE, FRANK STOUT.

